Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and author of "The Power of Crisis."
Thirty years ago, the Soviet empire collapsed, in large part because many within its orbit believed Western-style democracy and rule of law were superior to Soviet communism. America's openness and strong political institutions won admiration from millions who wanted to live in a political system where a leader's legitimacy depended on winning genuinely competitive, free and fair elections.
